Berhampur: The Ganjam district administration on Friday started the distribution of cash and rice to the flood-affected families in various panchayats.The state govt on Wednesday sanctioned over Rs 107.44 crore from the state disaster response fund (SDRF) to provide cash assistance of Rs 2,500 each to 4.29 lakh affected families, apart from 50 kg of rice. The govt has also provided 2.14 lakh quintals of rice to the district in the first phase, said the district’s chief civil supply officer (CCSO) Basant Kumar Panda. The district will require a total of 4.8 lakh quintals of rice for distribution.The district administration has identified the ration card-holding families and an additional 15% of families in all nine blocks — Sorada, Dharakote, Sheragada, Purushottampur, Aska, Bhanjanagar, Ganjam, Chhatrapur and Sanakhemundi — and panchayats in Khallikote (3), Kabisurya Nagar (2), Rangeilunda (3), Kukudakhandi (2), Hinjili (4), Digapahandi (8) and Patrapur (5).Ganjam district collector Keerthi Vasan V has directed the field-level officials to expedite the distribution of cash and rice, especially among the worst-affected families.While rice was distributed at the panchayat office, cash was provided through direct benefit transfer.Meanwhile, discontentment was brewing among several people as they have been left out of the scheme and have written to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi to extend the benefit to the entire district. “People of the entire district have been affected by rain and floods. The benefits need to cover all households,” said N Damburu Reddy, a former zilla parishad member.Ganjam district sarpanch association, led by its president Manoranjan Gouda, on Friday submitted a memorandum to the district collector urging him to reconsider the list of affected families and treat the entire district as flood-affected.Several MLAs from the district, during a discussion with the chief minister in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, urged him to extend the benefit to the entire district.